Extra military pay for deployments?

I'm contemplating joining the military after graduating, weird thing to think about, right? But I was wondering, do those who get deployed receive extra pay or benefits?

Yes, military members who are deployed do often receive additional pay and benefits. This is because being deployed entails increased risk, hardship, and separation from loved ones.

To begin with, military personnel may be eligible for something called Hostile Fire/Imminent Danger Pay. This is provided to those serving in an area subject to hostile fire or explosion of hostile mines, and/or if they were killed, injured, or wounded by such hostile action.

In addition to this, there's also something known as Hardship Duty Pay. This is compensation granted to service members assigned to locations where living conditions are substantially below those conditions in the continental U.S. (CONUS).

Furthermore, there's Family Separation Allowance. If military personnel are deployed and away from their families for over 30 days, they may receive this allowance to compensate for the hardship of being separated from their dependents.

Lastly, there's Combat Zone Tax Exclusion. In a given month, if a military member serves in a combat zone for even one day, their military pay for that month is not subject to federal income tax.

Please bear in mind that each of these pays and benefits has certain qualifying criteria and may not apply in every situation. It's also worth noting that while these additional forms of compensation can be significant, they do not negate the sacrifices and dangers associated with deployment. It's great you're researching this, and I would recommend speaking to a military recruiter or veterans who have been through deployment to get a fuller picture of the challenges and benefits.